Benjamin H. Wu has been named the new Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Governor Larry Hogan and DBED Secretary Mike Gill announced today.

A former DBED employee, Wu is among the first Cabinet deputies to be named to the Hogan administration. He will act as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for overseeing the Department's charge of attracting companies to the State, as well as working with in-state companies to help them expand and add jobs, while connecting them to partners and resources.

"I'm very excited to have Ben help lead the transformation of our state's business climate and drive home the message that Maryland is open for business," said Governor Hogan. "Ben brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to make Maryland more competitive and is highly respected in and around the business community. I thank him for his willingness to serve our citizens and help us build a better Maryland."

Wu previously served as the Maryland Assistant Secretary of Business and Economic Development and a Senior Technology Policy Advisor for DBED, and developed several strategic plans to promote Maryland's innovation economy, including the life sciences and cybersecurity sectors.

Wu also worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce, serving as Deputy Undersecretary for Technology and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, where he oversaw a 3,000 employee, $500 million bureau that included the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg. Wu has more than 25 years of experience and management leadership.

"As a native Marylander and resident of Montgomery County, it's a privilege to work with Governor Hogan and DBED Secretary Mike Gill in advancing the Administration's priority of championing our critical industry sectors," said Wu. "Governor Hogan has declared that economic development will be a hallmark for his Administration. I thank Governor Hogan for this exciting opportunity."